Endoscope, driving method, and endoscope system

Abstract

An endoscope includes: an imaging controller configured to drive in a first operation mode for operating an imager in accordance with an input first clock signal or in a second operation mode for operating the imager in accordance with an input second clock signal different from the first clock signal; a switch configured to output, to the imaging controller, a switching signal for switching the previously set second operation mode to be driven by the imaging controller to the first operation mode; and a first generator configured to generate a first enable signal causing the switch to output the switching signal based on the first clock signal when the first clock signal is input from an external processing device, and output the generated first enable signal to the switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An endoscope that detachably couples to a first processor outputting a first clock signal and a second clock signal and a second processor outputting a second clock signal, the endoscope comprising:
 an integrated circuit configured to:
 in a first operation mode:
 receive the first clock signal and the second clock signal from the first processor; 
 switch from a first state to a second state in response to the first clock signal received; 
 generate a first enable signal based on the first clock signal while in the second state; 
 generate a switching signal based on the first enable signal and the first clock signal; and 
 generate a first drive signal for driving the endoscope based on the switching signal and the second clock signal received from the first processor; and 
 
 in a second operation mode:
 receive the second clock signal from the second processor; and 
 in the absence of the first clock signal from the first processor, generate a second drive signal for driving the endoscope based on the second clock signal received from the second processor. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The endoscope according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is configured to switch from the first state to the second state in response to the first clock signal received when a power of the endoscope is activated. 
 
     
     
       3. The endoscope according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to:
 disable the second clock signal received from the second processor when a power of the endoscope is activated; and 
 enable the second clock signal received from the second processor when a clock switching signal for switching from the first clock signal to the second clock signal is received from the first processor. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The endoscope according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to:
 communicate with the first processor; and 
 enable the second clock signal received from the first processor at a receiving timing when the clock switching signal is received. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The endoscope according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is configured to enable the second clock signal received from the first processor after input of the first clock signal is overlapped with input of the second clock signal for a predetermined time period. 
 
     
     
       6. The endoscope according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is configured to operate the endoscope in the first operation mode in accordance with the first drive signal when the second clock signal is received from the first processor in a case where the clock switching signal is received. 
 
     
     
       7. The endoscope according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image sensor, 
 wherein the image sensor is configured to generate an imaging signal based on the first drive signal. 
 
     
     
       8. The endoscope according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is configured to:
 in the first operation mode:
 switch from a third state to a fourth state in response to the second clock signal received from the first processor; 
 generate a second enable signal while in the fourth state; 
 generate the first drive signal based on the switching signal, the second enable signal and the second clock signal received from the first processor; and 
 
 in the second operation mode:
 switch from the third state to the fourth state in response to the second clock signal received from the second processor; 
 generate the second enable signal while in the fourth state; and 
 in the absence of the first clock signal from the first processor, generate the second drive signal based on the second enable signal and second clock signal received from the second processor. 
 
 
 
     
     
       9. The endoscope according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is configured to output one of an identification signal and various types of information to one of the first processor and the second processor based on the second clock signal received from one of the first processor and the second processor. 
 
     
     
       10. A driving method implemented by an endoscope that detachably couples to a first processor outputting a first clock signal and a second clock signal and a second processor outputting a second clock signal, the driving method comprising:
 in a first operation mode:
 receiving the first clock signal and the second clock signal from the first processor; switching from a first state to a second state in response to the first clock signal received; 
 generating a first enable signal based on the first clock signal while in the second state; 
 generating a switching signal based on the first enable signal and the first clock signal; and 
 generating a first drive signal for driving the endoscope based on the switching signal and the second clock signal received from the first processor; and 
 
 in a second operation mode:
 receiving the second clock signal from the second processor; and 
 in the absence of the first clock signal from the first processor, generating a second drive signal for driving the endoscope based on the second clock signal received from the second processor. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The driving method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 switching from the first state to the second state in response to the first clock signal received when a power of the endoscope is activated. 
 
     
     
       12. The driving method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 disabling the second clock signal received from the second processor when a power of the endoscope is activated; and 
 enabling the second clock signal received from the second processor when a clock switching signal for switching from the first clock signal to the second clock signal is received from the first processor. 
 
     
     
       13. The driving method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 in the first operation mode:
 switching from a third state to a fourth state in response to the second clock signal received from the first processor; 
 generating a second enable signal while in the fourth state; 
 generating the first drive signal based on the switching signal, the second enable signal and the second clock signal received from the first processor; and 
 
 in the second operation mode:
 switching from the third state to the fourth state in response to the second clock signal received from the second processor; 
 generating the second enable signal while in the fourth state; and 
 in the absence of the first clock signal from the first processor, generating the second drive signal for driving the endoscope based on the second enable signal and second clock signal received from the second processor. 
 
 
     
     
       14. An endoscope system comprising
 a first processor configured to output a first clock signal and a second clock signal; and 
 an endoscope configured to detachably couple to the first processor and a second processor outputting a second clock signal, the endoscope comprising:
 an image sensor; and 
 an integrated circuit configured to:
 in a first operation mode:
 receive the first clock signal and the second clock signal from the first processor; 
 switch from a first state to a second state in response to the first clock signal received; 
 generate a first enable signal based on the first clock signal while in the second state; 
 generate a switching signal based on the first enable signal and the first clock signal; and 
 generate a first drive signal for driving the endoscope based on the switching signal and the second clock signal received from the first processor; and 
 
 in a second operation mode:
 receive the second clock signal from the second processor; and 
 in the absence of the first clock signal from the first processor, generate a second drive signal for driving the endoscope based on the second clock signal received from the second processor. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The endoscope system according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the integrated circuit is configured to switch from the first state to the second state in response to the first clock signal received when a power of the endoscope is activated. 
 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 the endoscope according to  claim 1 ; 
 the first processor; and 
 the second processor.